Lowe's really is the place as far as Memphians are concerned. The chain won as Best Hardware Store and Best Garden Store in the Memphis Most Home and Garden category. Then another chain, Ashley Furniture Homestore, came along and won Best Furniture Store.   

But small businesses made good showings as well. Two Chicks and a Broom won as Best Housekeeping Service. Owners Kip and Kelly Uhlhorn greeted The Donahue by first dusting him off, straightening his bow tie and then telling him about their all-natural cleaning policy. He gave them the sought-after "M" Award and they immediately polished it.   

The winner of Best Roofing Service is Jolly Roofing, which is not to say the workers putting up your shingles are like Santa Claus. But the Collierville-based firm is growing, with offices in Nashville, Houston and Panama City, Fla. "I may have to start covering parties in those cities," said The Donahue.  

His Partiness, somewhat of an expert on outdoor events, appreciates the contribution of a firm bringing beauty to the area. That's the bailiwick of Pettit's Lawnscapes, voted by readers as Best Landscaping Service. It may have something to do with the firm having won the Memphis City Beautiful award three times running. Beauty is as beauty does.